Pathways Care Farm

 And so the time keeps on moving on, heading now to Autum as change is on the way. It has been such a hot summer with little or no rain. The ground so parched and grass so dry, what can work through all this in the wild. We just dream of rain. But out on the lake was the sound of the tacking of  BLACKCAP and the calling and viewing of two KINGFISHER caryying fish I assume to the young. A pair of COMMON BUZZARD and four HOUSE MARTINS above the farm was a welcome sight. As for the MUTE SWANS things have taken a turn sadly for the worde. The young are well on but the parents have left. Three young still on the lake but three are missing. They are about the farm but not good, and although they are being returned there must be an issue in regards to feed. In fact if you look at the water it is clear and vegitation in it. Is it again a result of this very hot weather. More than likly.

Carlton Marsh SWT

 The usual four hours out talking to folks out on the marsh. With nothing out of the usual but still very enjoyable to see scarse birds in the wild. The best was the very lonly CATTLE EGRET which is intent on staying around and also a very short but close necounter with a CETTI'S WARBLER. Also managed a serise pf photo's of a CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY. 

It turns out that this a variety of the species. The white back fore wing is only found in one in five hundred of females. Which makes it a HELICE version of the same.

A near thing.

 A garden bird turned up the other day and who would ever dare to say. So we use the word "Type". But it not at all common around here. But as we all know after a time of breeding these birds always revert to type. So what we are looking at is a bird with several distinguishing features that reflect it's true past. The won that ever looked anything was a pair in the nest that I found on a rock face in County Sutherland. Yes I did claim it as the genuine artical, but not this one. But how good to look at the features that make up such a bird. So let's start.

1.    White rump.  2.   Two dark wing bars.    3.  Black end to tail. 4 .White under wing. 5. Black edge to forwing underneath and trailing edge. 6. Cere white. 7. Black bill.

Just a good thing to challenge us all and a ROCK DOVE. Well who can really tell.

 

 

Also a flyover HOOBY gavve a good showing as it flew East.

Something to talk about at last.

 After a protracted silence its time to come out and have something to say. No difficulty when you have seen some realy good stuff. A trip South to see me sister in Colchester took us down to Colchester and a ride out to Abberton Resevoir. Thinking of the time here I sat with Bill Oddie, with the words "Hello mate". It was hello again from the birding world with the first bird locked onto. The photographer next to me had no idea what he was looking at. So I put him in the picture, joke. RUDDY SHELLDUCK mate. To which he replied I know very little about wildlife and some time as a photographer. I exspect my pic's are nothing like his. But at least I new what I was looking at. As for anything an eclipse POCHARD and WIGEON and a flock of 10 SPOONBILL are always a good to watch. So enjoy the pic's.

 

Carlton Marsh SWT

I strugle to keep this blog running. No real reason, just me. I still keep out there but putting it out on this blog. Today was hot again and no water.  But a good few hours in the wilds of Suffolk. What more do you want. Best bird was an engagement of a RED KITE amd a HOBBY. Nothing really out of the ordinary but just a lovely day.

Carlton Marsh SWT

fter a long spell of good weather we have been inundated with rain and storms. Today was not much different. With a strong wind ranging from the East to the South. So wildlife was rather thin on the ground. Although it seemed that SAND MARTIN and SWALLOWS seemed to be feeding well over the reed bed. The only real surprise was the call of an AVOCET from Lookout hide. Which is very unusual, for I have never seen this bird from here. A young CHINSE WATER DEER strayed very near, as you can see in pic. Also took a distant pic of a male MARSH HARRIER which was orange wing tagged, but no id.

Update

 My regular walk around Pathways Care Farm, saw only the second RED VEINED DARTER for the site. Again a very good record. There us also on site 15 BEE ORCHID'S  which is again another first for Pathways. Surprisingly I noticed them way back in December and dispite some being eat ny MUNCJACK DEER  we manged to protect and raise enough for a good view. Our MUTE SWAN after over 50 days managed to get severen  cygnits of which is the most we have ever had. There was also a an influx of MALLARD with 13 young in all.